Weekly dose of dreaming: get Melo, draft Embiid

[TheFlex]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m79utu3

Coming in: Carmelo Anthony (sign & trade, 4 years/$95.8 million)

Going out: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, Kelly Olynyk, 2015 BOS 1st rounder, 2016 BOS 1st rounder, 2014 BOS-owned 2nd rounder (from BKN).

If Carmelo tells the Knicks he's leaving, all the Celtics would have to do to land him is make it worth NYK's while to take some contracts back in order to clear Boston's cap. Bass and Anthony are expirings; they can throw up Jeff Green's name on billboards until they make some real noise next offseason, and whatever negative value they'd swallow by taking on Green's contract is at the very least neutralized with the acquisition of Olynyk and three picks.

Do whatever it takes to draft Embiid. Take Kyle Anderson at 17 (is he the next Lamar Odom?).

Re-sign Avery Bradley to 3 years/$15 million. Re-sign Kris Humphries to 3 years/$18 million. Re-sign Jerryd Bayless to 2 years/$4.5 million. Waive Bogans and if I'm correct that leaves us well below the soft cap (which next year will be roughly $63 million). We could sign someone like Andray Blatche to $5 mil per season, we could bring in low post help via one of our two trade exceptions, or we could stay pat and make a run with the roster below.

Rajon Rondo/Jerryd Bayless/Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley/Chris Johnson/[Jerryd Bayless]
Carmelo Anthony/Kyle Anderson/Gerald Wallace
Jared Sullinger/Kris Humphries/[Gerald Wallace]
Joel Embiid/Vitor Faverani/[Kris Humphries]/Colton Iverson

Thoughts? Is this a contender?

[indeedproceed]

I don't know if it's a title contender, and the impossibility of it all is confounding. But I do like that you dream big. Sooooooo big.

[Lucky17]

Rajon Rondo/Jerryd Bayless/Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley/Chris Johnson/[Jerryd Bayless]
Carmelo Anthony/Kyle Anderson/Gerald Wallace
Jared Sullinger/Kris Humphries/[Gerald Wallace]
Joel Embiid/Vitor Faverani/[Kris Humphries]/Colton Iverson

Thoughts? Is this a contender?

I don't think so. Probably a 2nd round exit, if that. Just not enough quality depth in the backcourt, or at C.

Need a much stronger wing backup, someone who can double between the 2 and 3. A steady vet, 3 and D type.

The center rotation is all kinds of unproven. I'd wager that Humphries would be the guy playing most of the minutes there. Which then means you're pressing Wallace into PF duty.

Also, waiving Bogans and not making use of the TPE seems like an awful waste of assets. Add one or two draft picks to those, and you could add some quality to the roster. If you let Humphries and Bayless go, and added Lin and Asik instead, you'd be a lot closer, I think.

[TheFlex]

I don't know if it's a title contender, and the impossibility of it all is confounding. But I do like that you dream big. Sooooooo big.

Are you hung up on acquiring Melo, drafting Embiid, or re-signing Humphries to $6 million per? Those were the three most unrealistic moves of this scenario in order, IMO.

I think a lot of us here at CelticsBlog are like me: we like to think big, and we expect big things from Celtics management over the next few years. However I've noticed a growing population of forum members who try to greatly temper expectations so they're not disappointed with next year's roster. That's fine, but I think it's so pronounced in some posters' outlooks that any trade/free agent discussion is dampened with statements like "that'd be great, but a lot of things would have to go our way."

Well, again, that's not to say that such a claim isn't true. But of course a lot would have to go our way. There are 29 other professional teams gunning for the same thing we are. But are the Celtics more able to make a splash for a player of Melo's caliber than 20-25 of those 29 other teams? I'd say. It'd take a lot of luck to land Melo and draft/trade up to draft Embiid. But is the impossibility of executing both moves "confounding?" If that's the direction Ainge planned on moving in, I personally don't think so.

[PhoSita]

If Embiid pans out, the team would be a contender in 2-3 years when he's developed a bit.


I think people are expecting too much of Embiid if they think he's gonna play more than 20-25 minutes a game at first and actually have a featured role or anything like that.

[TheFlex]

Rajon Rondo/Jerryd Bayless/Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley/Chris Johnson/[Jerryd Bayless]
Carmelo Anthony/Kyle Anderson/Gerald Wallace
Jared Sullinger/Kris Humphries/[Gerald Wallace]
Joel Embiid/Vitor Faverani/[Kris Humphries]/Colton Iverson

Thoughts? Is this a contender?

Also, waiving Bogans and not making use of the TPE seems like an awful waste of assets. Add one or two draft picks to those, and you could add some quality to the roster. If you let Humphries and Bayless go, and added Lin and Asik instead, you'd be a lot closer, I think.

I'd certainly agree that there's holes in that team. As I said in the OP I was tempted to add Andray Blatche or use the trade exception but only so much can go our way in a single offseason. I think if we drafted Embiid/Anderson, brought in Melo and re-signed three fan favorites (who are also three very good basketball players), Ainge and fans would be extremely happy.

I myself feel that this is Rockets-like team that has an outside shot at a ring but wouldn't be solidified in contention talks. They're probably a piece or two away (adding Blatche and allowing Chris Johnson/Kyle Anderson/Embiid to develop would go a long way) but would still be an extremely promising squad.

[TheFlex]

If Embiid pans out, the team would be a contender in 2-3 years when he's developed a bit.


I think people are expecting too much of Embiid if they think he's gonna play more than 20-25 minutes a game at first and actually have a featured role or anything like that.

No doubt, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him have a real, immediate impact on defense. Embiid minus a developed offensive game is still better than pretty much any center we started in 2013-14.

[Celtics18]

I like it.  The main thing I would do differently is to include Sullinger in the Melo deal instead of Olynyk.  Also, I think there are some better back up point guard options than Jerryd Bayless out there in free agency.

[D.o.s.]

I like it.  The main thing I would do differently is to include Sullinger in the Melo deal instead of Olynyk.  Also, I think there are some better back up point guard options than Jerryd Bayless out there in free agency.

I think you include Oly in the deal instead of Sullinger so you can keep Sully to bang with the 4's on defense -- why anyone would keep playing Anthony at the 3 instead of the 4 on offense is beyond me.

[PhoSita]

If Embiid pans out, the team would be a contender in 2-3 years when he's developed a bit.


I think people are expecting too much of Embiid if they think he's gonna play more than 20-25 minutes a game at first and actually have a featured role or anything like that.

No doubt, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him have a real, immediate impact on defense. Embiid minus a developed offensive game is still better than pretty much any center we started in 2013-14.

Oh sure.  I'm just saying, if the Celtics draft Embiid, I fully expect them to also sign a veteran center in the offseason and start him ahead of Embiid.  They'll bring him along slowly.

[Celtics4ever]

Melo has tore it up in the playoffs.   Oh wait, he didn't make the playoffs.   No thanks, he is not very Celtic.

[crimson_stallion]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m79utu3

Coming in: Carmelo Anthony (sign & trade, 4 years/$95.8 million)

Going out: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, Kelly Olynyk, 2015 BOS 1st rounder, 2016 BOS 1st rounder, 2014 BOS-owned 2nd rounder (from BKN).

If Carmelo tells the Knicks he's leaving, all the Celtics would have to do to land him is make it worth NYK's while to take some contracts back in order to clear Boston's cap. Bass and Anthony are expirings; they can throw up Jeff Green's name on billboards until they make some real noise next offseason, and whatever negative value they'd swallow by taking on Green's contract is at the very least neutralized with the acquisition of Olynyk and three picks.

Do whatever it takes to draft Embiid. Take Kyle Anderson at 17 (is he the next Lamar Odom?).

Re-sign Avery Bradley to 3 years/$15 million. Re-sign Kris Humphries to 3 years/$18 million. Re-sign Jerryd Bayless to 2 years/$4.5 million. Waive Bogans and if I'm correct that leaves us well below the soft cap (which next year will be roughly $63 million). We could sign someone like Andray Blatche to $5 mil per season, we could bring in low post help via one of our two trade exceptions, or we could stay pat and make a run with the roster below.

Rajon Rondo/Jerryd Bayless/Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley/Chris Johnson/[Jerryd Bayless]
Carmelo Anthony/Kyle Anderson/Gerald Wallace
Jared Sullinger/Kris Humphries/[Gerald Wallace]
Joel Embiid/Vitor Faverani/[Kris Humphries]/Colton Iverson

Thoughts? Is this a contender?

Wow...a trade idea that actually makes the team better!  Didn't think those still popped up on this site!

I would be absolutely thrilled if Boston could pull this off.  I'm not sure if it would make Boston a contender, but it would certainly put us up there.

Bradley complements Rondo very well because he is a good enough shooter to stretch the floor (40% from three this year - makes up partly for Rondo's poor outside shot) and because he's good enough defensively to pick up the opposing PG if they slip past Rondo (which happens a lot when RR cheats on defense).  This allows Rondo to play more aggressively on D (because Bradley has his back) and hence come up with more steals.  Bradley also seems to work well with Rondo because he plays best off the ball, and Rondo is still the best passer in the NBA.  He is good at finding Bradley in the right spots.

Carmello give Boston the go-to scorer it has so desperately needed since the decline of Pierce.  He might not be a great defender, but with Bradley and Embiid on the court he doesn't really need to be.  Carmello is still one of the most clutch (and most versatile) scorers of this generation, and he will win you his share of games from pure scoring power alone.  He's also a capable shooter who (along with Bradley) can help to stretch the floor, while he can also put pressure on the interior with his driving/post game, can get opposign teams in foul trouble (he gets to the line a LOT) and will constantly demand double teams.

When the missed shots come, Sully and Embiid would do a great job of cleaning up the boards...and both are capable scores in the post who can also stretch the floor with their jumpers.  Embiid's elite shotblocking ability would easilly cover for Sully's defensive deficiencies. 

As for the bench, Bayless is one of the better combo-guards out there and doesn't really have a major weakness in his game.  He's a decent passer, decent ball handler, capable scorer.  He can play either guard position equally well.

Hump will also give you solid production at the PF spot.  I think our backup center and SF spots are the glaring weaknesses here, but I'm sure Danny would find a way to slot somebody in there.

It's not an elite team by any means, but a big upgrade over what we have now.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Melo has tore it up in the playoffs.   Oh wait, he didn't make the playoffs.   No thanks, he is not very Celtic.

I'd take him and give it a shot.

[TheFlex]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m79utu3

Coming in: Carmelo Anthony (sign & trade, 4 years/$95.8 million)

Going out: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Joel Anthony, Kelly Olynyk, 2015 BOS 1st rounder, 2016 BOS 1st rounder, 2014 BOS-owned 2nd rounder (from BKN).

If Carmelo tells the Knicks he's leaving, all the Celtics would have to do to land him is make it worth NYK's while to take some contracts back in order to clear Boston's cap. Bass and Anthony are expirings; they can throw up Jeff Green's name on billboards until they make some real noise next offseason, and whatever negative value they'd swallow by taking on Green's contract is at the very least neutralized with the acquisition of Olynyk and three picks.

Do whatever it takes to draft Embiid. Take Kyle Anderson at 17 (is he the next Lamar Odom?).

Re-sign Avery Bradley to 3 years/$15 million. Re-sign Kris Humphries to 3 years/$18 million. Re-sign Jerryd Bayless to 2 years/$4.5 million. Waive Bogans and if I'm correct that leaves us well below the soft cap (which next year will be roughly $63 million). We could sign someone like Andray Blatche to $5 mil per season, we could bring in low post help via one of our two trade exceptions, or we could stay pat and make a run with the roster below.

Rajon Rondo/Jerryd Bayless/Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley/Chris Johnson/[Jerryd Bayless]
Carmelo Anthony/Kyle Anderson/Gerald Wallace
Jared Sullinger/Kris Humphries/[Gerald Wallace]
Joel Embiid/Vitor Faverani/[Kris Humphries]/Colton Iverson

Thoughts? Is this a contender?

Wow...a trade idea that actually makes the team better!  Didn't think those still popped up on this site!

I would be absolutely thrilled if Boston could pull this off.  I'm not sure if it would make Boston a contender, but it would certainly put us up there.

Bradley complements Rondo very well because he is a good enough shooter to stretch the floor (40% from three this year - makes up partly for Rondo's poor outside shot) and because he's good enough defensively to pick up the opposing PG if they slip past Rondo (which happens a lot when RR cheats on defense).  This allows Rondo to play more aggressively on D (because Bradley has his back) and hence come up with more steals.  Bradley also seems to work well with Rondo because he plays best off the ball, and Rondo is still the best passer in the NBA.  He is good at finding Bradley in the right spots.

Carmello give Boston the go-to scorer it has so desperately needed since the decline of Pierce.  He might not be a great defender, but with Bradley and Embiid on the court he doesn't really need to be.  Carmello is still one of the most clutch (and most versatile) scorers of this generation, and he will win you his share of games from pure scoring power alone.  He's also a capable shooter who (along with Bradley) can help to stretch the floor, while he can also put pressure on the interior with his driving/post game, can get opposign teams in foul trouble (he gets to the line a LOT) and will constantly demand double teams.

When the missed shots come, Sully and Embiid would do a great job of cleaning up the boards...and both are capable scores in the post who can also stretch the floor with their jumpers.  Embiid's elite shotblocking ability would easilly cover for Sully's defensive deficiencies. 

As for the bench, Bayless is one of the better combo-guards out there and doesn't really have a major weakness in his game.  He's a decent passer, decent ball handler, capable scorer.  He can play either guard position equally well.

Hump will also give you solid production at the PF spot.  I think our backup center and SF spots are the glaring weaknesses here, but I'm sure Danny would find a way to slot somebody in there.

It's not an elite team by any means, but a big upgrade over what we have now.

I think I'd be willing to swap the 2014 BKN 2nd rounder for the 2016 BOS-owned 1st rounder (from BKN) if the Knicks threw in Tim Hardaway. Sign Blatche and to me that's a contender. What do you think?

Rajon Rondo/Jerryd Bayless/Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley/Tim Hardaway Jr./Chris Johnson
Carmelo Anthony/Kyle Anderson/Gerald Wallace
Jared Sullinger/Kris Humphries/[Gerald Wallace]
Joel Embiid/Andray Blatche/Vitor Faverani/Colton Iverson

Celtics4ever:

Melo has tore it up in the playoffs.   Oh wait, he didn't make the playoffs.   No thanks, he is not very Celtic.

His first year in many in which his team didn't reach the playoffs. Means nothing. Paul Pierce didn't make the playoffs a number of times. Your point?

[Snakehead]

I don't expect to walk away from this draft with a player of Melo or Love's caliber without giving up the first in that draft.  Maybe then we could say keep Olynyk (fine by me).   But the "do anything it takes to get Embiid" doesn't look realistic to follow that up with.